Introduction to Information Technology: Your Digital World

People in IT

DEFINITION: Information Technology (IT) describes any technology that helps to produce, manipulate, store, communicate, and/or disseminate information.

• Part 1: Computer Technology
• Part 2: Communications Technology

COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY: A computer is a programmable,
multiuse machine that accepts data—raw facts and figures —and processes, or manipulates, it into information we can use, such as summaries, totals, or reports.
- Its purpose is to speed up problem solving and increase productivity.
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY :
Communications technology , also called telecommunications technology , consists of electromagnetic devices and systems for communicating over long distances.
The principal examples are telephone, radio, broadcast television.
In more recent times, there has been the addition of communication among computers—which is what happens when people “go online” on the internet.
- Online: means using a computer or some other information device, connected through a network, to access information and services from another computer or information device.
- A network is a communications system connecting
two or more computers; the internet is the largest such network.

How Is IT Being Used in Education?

• Information technology is essential on college campuses.
• IT is used in teaching, labs, and in course management.
• Many college classes are either taught online or have a class website.

DEFINITION: Distance learning is online

education

Rules for Computers in Classrooms

• Problem: Computers in the classroom can be used or misused.
• What should they be used for?
• Following the lecture
• Working along with the instructor
• Performing instructor-assigned Internet searches
• Completing assignments for this class
• What is misuse?
• Text messaging or emailing friends
• Surfing the Internet for entertainment
• Doing assignments for other classes